List of CEO Salaries by State

The basic role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) depends upon whether or not the organization is a corporation or not. Does the organization consist of a board of directors? Is it also labeled as a C-Corp or S-Corp? If the structure of the business comprises of a board of directors, then the role of the CEO lies in organizing and implenting strategic plans and policies that are dictated by the board of directors. This way, the CEO is accountable to the board of directors.

If the company does not consist of a board of directors (usually an LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.) then the CEO's role is to decide the direction of the organization while organizing and implementing the strategic plan and policies he/she set forth. There is much more freedom within this type of structure, but does not possess the backing or structure that a board of directors can supply.

CEO DUTIES

Some daily tasks and duties of a Chief Executive Officer can include, but is not limited to:

Program, product and service oversight.

Board administration and support.

Financial management.

Risk and facilities management.

Human resource management.

Public relations.

This profession consists of meetings after meetings with everybody in the organization. Informing board members; communicating between staff and board members; overseeing design and developments; oversight of the quality of organizations products, services, and support; management of human resources personnel; assuring the organization mission statement; and in non-profit cases, fund-raising events and implementation.

CEO SALARY

Somebody should not be paid upon their skills and abilities. They should neither be paid according to their education. Somebody's salary depends solely upon the responsibilities of their profession. The day-to-day functions of the position should be what determines your annual income. And this is why Chief Executives receive a much higher pay than other positions. There is much more responsibility in the hands of the CEO than most other professions.

The average CEO salary for the U.S. is currently $167,280 per year. The average hourly pay for a CEO is $80.43 per hour. Following is a list taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is calculated by multiplying the hourly mean by wage by 2,080 hours.

Alabama

Hourly: $79.98

Salary: $166,350

Alaska

Hourly: $69.85

Salary: $145,290

Arizona

Hourly: $80.38

Salary: $167,190

Arkansas

Hourly: $65.83

Salary: $136,930

California

Hourly: $94.09

Salary: $195,700

Colorado

Hourly: $80.52

Salary: $167,480

Connecticut

Hourly: $91.80

Salary: $190,940

Delaware

Hourly: $96.86

Salary: $201,460

District of Columbia

Hourly: $88.77

Salary: $184,640

Florida

Hourly: $84.86

Salary: $176,510

Georgia

Hourly: $78.42

Salary: $163,120

Guam

Hourly: $41.19

Salary: $85,670

Hawaii

Hourly: $77.58

Salary: $161,370

Idaho

Hourly: $64.57

Salary: $134,310

Illinois

Hourly: $73.90

Salary: $153,720

Indiana

Hourly: $78.91

Salary: $164,130

Iowa

Hourly: $69.56

Salary: $144,680

Kansas

Hourly: $66.99

Salary: $139,340

Kentucky

Hourly: $65.63

Salary: $136,510

Louisiana

Hourly: $71.43

Salary: $148,580

Maine

Hourly: $63.83

Salary: $132,770

Maryland

Hourly: $79.89

Salary: $166,160

Massachusetts

Hourly: $85.57

Salary: $177,980

Michigan

Hourly: $75.92

Salary: $157,920

Minnesota

Hourly: $83.99

Salary: $174,710

Mississippi

Hourly: $61.87

Salary: $128,680

Missouri

Hourly: $72.14

Salary: $150,040

Montana

Hourly: $43.40

Salary: $90,260

Nebraska

Hourly: $80.67

Salary: $167,790

Nevada

Hourly: $79.36

Salary: $165,060

New Hampshire

Hourly: $82.04

Salary: $170,640

New Jersey

Hourly: $94.34

Salary: $196,220

New Mexico

Hourly: $94.82

Salary: $197,230

New York

Hourly: $88.82

Salary: $184,740

North Carolina

Hourly: $91.28

Salary: $189,860

North Dakota

Hourly: $65.56

Salary: $136,370

Ohio

Hourly: $82.26

Salary: $171,110

Oklahoma

Hourly: $56.78

Salary: $118,110

Oregon

Hourly: $85.23

Salary: $177,280

Pennsylvania

Hourly: $76.72

Salary: $159,580

Puerto Rico

Hourly: $51.91

Salary: $107,980

Rhode Island

Hourly: $86.63

Salary: $180,180

South Carolina

Hourly: $79.63

Salary: $165,630

South Dakota

Hourly: $62.32

Salary: $129,620

Tennessee

Hourly: $73.39

Salary: $152,650

Texas

Hourly: $82.83

Salary: $172,280

Utah

Hourly: $70.67

Salary: $146,990

Vermont

Hourly: $64.30

Salary: $133,730

Virgin Islands

Hourly: $72.02

Salary: $149,810

Virginia

Hourly: $86.60

Salary: $180,130

Washington

Hourly: $90.49

Salary: $188,220

West Virginia

Hourly: $49.33

Salary: $102,610

Wisconsin

Hourly: $81.33

Salary: $169,170

Wyoming

Hourly: $59.61

Salary: $123,990

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

If you're desiring to become a Chief Executive, then there are a few characteristics, skills, and abilities that you must fundamentally possess. And the most important of all of the traits that you should possess is the ability to lead. But what does that mean? How does somebody lead successfully?

Leadership qualities consist of being able to influence people in a certain direction. If your organization needs to implement a new mission statement, your job is to persuade people, in such a way, to follow this new direction. A leader does this by talking, but more importantly, listening to his staff. By serving your employees, you are modeling a form of action that others will undeniably follow. In this way you will successfully lead people to the right course of action.

With a large number of meeting per week, a leader needs to be in top physical, mental, and emotional shape. This will allow you to focus and be present in every one of those meetings. This is the foundation of being able to do your job well. Don't forget to exercise! Your mind works so much better.

And most importantly, be the person you want your organization to represent. If you're not somebody that others want to replicate, why would anybody want your product, service, or support? Why would your staff desire to help you help them? Why would anybody listen to you if they can't respect your decisions because of your behavior? This is key: be the person you would follow.

BECOMING A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

If you're interested in becoming a CEO of an organization there are a couple of ways to go about it. There is always a need for intelligent, caring, and strategy-focused Chief Executives. Here is a small list of ways to become a CEO. Choose which path you'd like to take. But remember that there is a lot of responsibility when it comes to this position.

Start a brick and mortar business.

Start an online company.

Go to college and get an MBA.

Become a professor > enter administration > enter presidency.

Enter human resources > administration > CEO.

There a thousand ways to work your way up the corporate ladder, but the most effective way (and sometimes the most fulfilling) is the create your own business. Sometimes CEO's will sell their company and begin a new one. Other times they'll continue in their self-made organization and enter another company's board of directors and implement strategies and policies that way. The world is open to you. Welcome to it!